Maintenance and Engineering Manager

Maintenance & Reliability

Oversee all maintenance activities including repairs, preventive maintenance, equipment installation.
Design, implement, and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment failures and recurring issues.
Manage CMMS (work orders, PM compliance, spares, vendor performance); set and track KPIs (uptime/OEE, MTTR/MTBF, PM compliance, maintenance cost as % of RAV).
Own spare parts inventory, procurement processes, critical spares and vendor relationships to ensure availability and cost efficiency.
Ensure 24/7 readiness of critical systems, including on-call coverage and emergency response protocols.
Own utilities and infrastructure (e.g., boilers/steam, compressed air, chilled water, HVAC, water/wastewater, electrical distribution).

Engineering & Projects

Partner with Engineering on capital projects (equipment upgrades, facility expansions, automation/controls) from business case through FAT/SAT and startup.
Champion new technologies such as, Industry 4.0/Smart Factory solutions (sensors, data historians, SCADA/PLC integrations) to modernize operations.
Manage project scope, schedule, budget, contractors, and change control; deliver to ROI targets.
Collaborate with Operations/Quality/EHS to implement Lean/TPM improvements that increase productivity and reduce waste.

People Leadership

Recruit, train, and develop a skilled and motivated team of maintenance technicians.
Set clear expectations, coach performance, and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous learning (5S/standard work).
Create and manage work schedules, ensuring coverage and responsiveness across all shifts, and compliance with all relevant labor laws/local ordinances.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Compliance & Safety

Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA, electrical safety (Arc Flash), LOTO, relevant city of Chicago ordinances, and confined space requirements.
In a food manufacturing context, partner with QA on cGMP, FSMA, USDA, HACCP, SQF/BRC requirements; maintain audit-ready documentation.
Lead safety initiatives, including hazard assessments, training programs, and incident investigations.
Drive a zero-incident mindset and proactive risk reductions.

Budgeting & Reporting

Develop and manage annual budget for maintenance and engineering functions.
Provide regular reports on equipment performance, project milestones, cost savings, and strategic recommendations.
Identify opportunities for capital investment and present business cases for new equipment or technology adoption.